Askesis

Askesis literally means "exercise" or "training" — the word was used for athletic training before it was adopted by the spiritual tradition. In the Philokalia, it refers to the practical disciplines of the contemplative life: fasting, vigils, prayer, silence, self-examination, and the broader work of bringing the body and its impulses under the governance of awareness.

The tradition insists on moderation in ascetic practice. John Cassian's famous conference with Abba Moses warns against extremes in either direction — too much fasting is as dangerous as too little. The goal of askesis is not self-punishment but self-governance: developing the capacity to choose rather than react, to respond rather than be driven.